Towing Safety Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
Introduced
Summary
Tightening federal rules for heavy‑duty tow and recovery vehicles. This bill would redefine which vehicles qualify as covered tow and recovery units, limit their travel to a single State, require axle weights and configurations that are safe for highway bridges along the route, and add federal length and vehicle‑count limits tied to the original wreck's compliance.
Show full summary
- Tow operators would face clearer eligibility rules and operational limits. Travel would be allowed only within one State and only if axle weights and the vehicle configuration can safely use bridges on the route as determined by the transportation agency of jurisdiction.
- State transportation agencies would gain explicit authority to determine bridge safety for tow routes and to direct appropriate destinations for wrecked or disabled vehicles.
- Road users would see federal length and combination limits for towed vehicles. Limits would match the length and number of vehicles that complied at the time and place of the initial wreck.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New limits on tow truck operations
If enacted, the bill would define a covered heavy‑duty tow and recovery vehicle as one responding to, returning from, or transporting a wrecked or disabled vehicle from where it became wrecked or disabled to the nearest appropriate repair facility or other location as the agency with jurisdiction directs. It would replace the term "gross vehicle weight" with "combined gross vehicle weight rating" for these vehicles. Tow businesses would be limited to travel within a single State when moving such wrecked or disabled vehicles. They would have to use axle weights and vehicle configurations that the transportation agency of jurisdiction says are safe for highway bridges on the route. Federal length rules would cap the overall length of the towed combination (or any single vehicle in that combination) and the number of vehicles carried, but only when the wrecked or disabled combination complied with applicable length limits at the time and place it became disabled. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
OH • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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